(pp 92-94 MTA)

Acanthus mages tend to be the most capricious of Awakened. To friends, they are a “breath of fresh air” or “free spirits”. Their detractors label them “unstable” or “immature”. Many see something fey or otherworldly in them.

Maturity and stability are not strengths of those on the “Path of Thistle”.

Orders are cautious about taking on Acanthus mages due to their “flaky” and “unfocused” nature. When the Acanthus do join orders, they tend to flock to The Free Council, where their minds are free to innovate as they see fit or The Mysterium where they are free to test their wits against Ancient Lore.

Mages of Acanthus often have attractive features, tending to appear younger than they are. They have near omnipresent glimmer to the eyes. The glimmer is joined by a crafty, vulpine quality, that some may take as shifty or dishonest.

The Acanthus are incredibly social, often hiding in plain sight. They set up their sanctums near to community focal points: opera houses, theatres, bars, nightclubs, and temples. More often than not the sheer dumb luck of the Acanthus keeps others from finding the sanctums, or at least from realizing what they truly are.

Mastigos
Powerful, yes, but they think in terms of masters and slaves and don’t notice things that don’t fit within their framework.

Moros
I pity them. I would no more trade my quicksilver for their lead than I would trade a daydream for a nightmare.

Obrimos
So rigid, and in a kind of pushy arrogant way too.

Thyrsus
A little rouch around the edges perhaps, and, yes, many of them are mad as hatters, but they’re good allies most of the time.

Vampires
Dangerous without a doubt, but not always so clever as they like to think they are.

Werewolves
Irrational Beasts, they are best avoided, because once they get angry there’s no reasoning with them.

Sleepers
How they endure such a tedious banal existence is beyond me.